WASHINGTON — A gauge of U.S. consumer spending rose in September as Americans likely snapped up Apple’s new iPhone and bought leisure goods, but falling sales of automobiles pointed to sluggish economic growth during the third quarter.
The Commerce Department said on Tuesday retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline and building materials, increased 0.5% last month after a 0.2% gain in August.

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in May and first-time applications for jobless benefits fell last week, suggesting the economy was squeezing out of a recent soft patch.
The signs of resilience in the economy, despite belt-tightening in Washington, could heat up the debate on when the Federal Reserve might start scaling back its expansive monetary stimulus.

Higher prices for food and clothing prices driven up by the weak pound fuelled retail sales growth last month.
British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG figures showed that like-for-like retail sales rose 1.9 per cent in September, the BBC reports.
That was far higher than the 0.4 per cent increase for the same month last year. Total sales climbed 2.3 per cent.

(WASHINGTON) — Americans boosted their spending at retail businesses only modestly in August, indicating that economic growth remains sluggish. Consumers bought more cars, furniture and electronics last month but held back on most other purchases. Spending at retail businesses rose just 0.2 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the smallest gain in four months.

(WASHINGTON) — Americans boosted their spending at retail businesses only modestly in August, indicating that economic growth remains sluggish. Consumers bought more cars, furniture and electronics last month but held back on most other purchases. Spending at retail businesses rose just 0.2 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the smallest gain in four months.